November 17, 2009

Air Quotes: A Compliment, Federer Style

However, Federer believes he copes with opponents like Murray better than he
did in his early days against men like Lleyton Hewitt and David Nalbandian. "I
had a lot of trouble against those baseliners early on just because they
were too consistent. They could always get one more ball back. Maybe they
didn't have the best serve, but I wasn't the best return player, so I
couldn't take advantage. My serve wasn't solid enough yet, so I would always
get tangled up in those horrible baseline rallies.

"Murray can still do that to some degree, but when I play too well or too
offensively I can take time away from him now. And I'm too physical, whereas
in the beginning I couldn't do that. I couldn't get around backhands like I
can now. Now I can mix up my game too well for him to get under my skin.

"I know what I can do and I know what he can do. When we both play well
it's a close match, but I always feel it's the attacker who holds the key to
success, so it's up to me whether I win or lose, not up to him. That's why I
don't mind the match-up, to be honest.

"It's like when [Pete] Sampras and [Andre] Agassi played. Agassi was more
aggressive [than most counter-attackers], but still Sampras held the key
because he was serving, pushing the limits, taking the risks. Which Murray
doesn't do so much – though that doesn't take anything away from Murray.
That's just his game style.

Yes, as an attacking player the game is in your hands. UNLESS the "defensive" player doesn't allow you to attack. I'm not saying Fed is wrong. But JESUS, it just sounds so offensive the way he chooses to phrase it.

Comments

However, Federer believes he copes with opponents like Murray better than he
did in his early days against men like Lleyton Hewitt and David Nalbandian. "I
had a lot of trouble against those baseliners early on just because they
were too consistent. They could always get one more ball back. Maybe they
didn't have the best serve, but I wasn't the best return player, so I
couldn't take advantage. My serve wasn't solid enough yet, so I would always
get tangled up in those horrible baseline rallies.

"Murray can still do that to some degree, but when I play too well or too
offensively I can take time away from him now. And I'm too physical, whereas
in the beginning I couldn't do that. I couldn't get around backhands like I
can now. Now I can mix up my game too well for him to get under my skin.

"I know what I can do and I know what he can do. When we both play well
it's a close match, but I always feel it's the attacker who holds the key to
success, so it's up to me whether I win or lose, not up to him. That's why I
don't mind the match-up, to be honest.

"It's like when [Pete] Sampras and [Andre] Agassi played. Agassi was more
aggressive [than most counter-attackers], but still Sampras held the key
because he was serving, pushing the limits, taking the risks. Which Murray
doesn't do so much – though that doesn't take anything away from Murray.
That's just his game style.

Yes, as an attacking player the game is in your hands. UNLESS the "defensive" player doesn't allow you to attack. I'm not saying Fed is wrong. But JESUS, it just sounds so offensive the way he chooses to phrase it.